Monday, January 25, 2010

Overwhelming sadness slams into the world, the Caribbean, Grenada, the Village and me. I have not been able to write or paint for the past week. Sunk into Haiti’s devastating tragedy, I wonder how a country moves from despair into hope. Every day new stories reveal themselves on local radio stations. The latest story is of Haiti’s national football (soccer) team. Over 30 players, coaches and referees dead. Putting faces onto the inaccessible sorrow. Theo is a football coach and once played for the Grenada national football team so our northern sister island is not so far anymore.

No longer is Haiti seen as a poor distant cousin in the eyes of the Caribbean region. She is now close and personal. Over two decades ago Trinidad & Tobago’s David Rudder produced a calypso that haunts us today as we listen to his words over and over on local radio stations in between nation wide fund raising broadcasts. Haiti I’m sorryWe misunderstood you,But one day we’ll turn aroundAnd look inside you.Haiti I’m sorryHaiti I’m so sorry... But one day we’ll turn our heads, Restore your glory

Who knew a 7.0 earthquake killing and injuring thousands and leaving millions homeless would be the day the world turns around and looks inside Haiti. Rudder’s chorus reaches deep into the psyche of those who know Haiti’s history and her long struggle for freedom; freedom from slavery in the 1800s, freedom from historical and world debt, freedom from corrupt politicians, freedom from oppression and violence, freedom from persistent poverty, freedom from the world’s negative stereotypes and prejudisms, freedom from natural disasters, freedom, freedom , freedom…

The irony shouts loud and clear. Haiti, brave powerful resilient strong Haiti paved the way for Latin American and the Caribbean by leading the first revolt against slavery in the western hemisphere. Haiti won a ten year revolution against the French and became the first independent country in the Americas in 1804. However from birth Haiti was isolated, ostracized and denied access to world trade, finance and institutional development. According to the history books it was the most vicious example of national strangulation recorded in modern history. The Haitians were alone from inception. In 1825 the country had to find a way to insert themselves back into the world economy and thus approached their past colonizers for assistance. They were told they would be recognized as a sovereign nation however not without compensation and reparation in exchange. The sums amounted to 150 million gold francs. Haitians with their backs against the wall agreed and thus began the systematic destruction of the republic of Haiti.

There are layers and layers of historical context to this tragedy. I hope one day, we as a global nation, will begin to know not only our own histories but our neighbor’s histories as well. Then can we begin to look inside one another and recognize our common humanity and our common contribution to devastation and havoc. My hope too, is that we make Haiti a teachable moment for our privileged children. May they know the historical context behind Haiti and not just see Haiti as another poor black country that the privileged kids of the West must save their pennies for.

The fine line of hope and despair continues to reveal itself. Today I woke up committed to breaking this spell of sadness and moving more fully into the world. Yesterday I was sad and angry. Today I am responsible for me and how I choose to connect to this world. I remember reading about a Buddhist teacher who encouraged people filled with despair over the state of the world with wise and simple advice, “Its our turn to help the world.” Haiti’s tragedy is a wake up call for us to step forward to create positive changes in the world, through our generous offerings to an earth quake destroyed country and to our own corners of the world.

Hope lies in the global, regional and national response to Haiti’s dire needs. For the past week there is a calmness here in the village. A common recognition of our vulnerable states and our common inherent goodness as we all move together to give forth our offerings. A local radio station organized an island wide motorcade the Saturday after the Quake. A convoy of transport trucks, buses, cars and motorbikes traveled around the island collecting whatever people could give. The radio station followed the trucks live while listeners called in to see where and when the convoy would reach them. Most of us were instructed to head to the main roads. Maya, Theo and I traveled down with our hockey bag full of clothes and food stuff. We were greeted by others lining the side of the road with their contributions. There were many people there, who with very little themselves threw their bags of contributions on to the trucks. The Tivoli drummers, Grenada’s finest cultural drum troupe, beat their support and solidarity from the back of one of the transports. A DJ set on a next truck blaring David Rudder’s haunting voice “Haiti I am sorry. Haiti I am so sorry”

Monday, January 18, 2010

I am blogging this morning in a request for collective community prayers for our nephew. JJ is going today for a second heart test to determine whether a hospital overseas will consider him for heart surgery.

JJ came down with rheumatic heart disease a couple months ago. His heart was badly infected. Many say it is a miracle he lived through the infection. JJ is testimony to a life interrupted by illness and yet still ploughing forward into a different sort of life. A fragile vulnerable life.

JJ is presently being sponsored by the Grenada Heart Foundation, a foundation that sponsors children and youth with heart disease and who need financial and medical assistance.

Please use the power of collective spirit consciousness to support JJ in his fight for life. Thanks. One love. Maureen

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The other day I was hanging with two of my soul gal friends when we started talking about poetry. We revealed our hidden thoughts about the genre. One of us said she didn’t write poetry but then minutes later said, “hold on now, maybe I do write poetry because I just remembered a poem I wrote …. Oh yes and another one…” Next soul friend revealed that she wrote poetry which had us squealing with delight! And I shared my own reflections of poems lost and found, read outloud and hidden in the folds of my journal. That same evening i found a large letter waiting for me on the table. It was a newsletter from an organization i am a part of. In the newsletter there stood a poem of mine. First poem ever published. Synchronicity strikes.
I thought I would share it with you.

Dedicated to children worldwide and to my two soul galfriends!

We Wrap Our Arms Around Children Worldwide

We wrap our arms around children worldwide
to guide and to teach them
a new way to be in this world
where they are the leaders
of spirit and renewal
where they are the wings
to themselves and the roots
to their own decisions, destinies, desires

We wrap our arms around children worldwide
allowing them to teach us
about unconditional love
love without boundaries
moment to moment living
the spirit of presence
the nowness of now

We wrap our arms around children worldwide
creating an environment
that supports and nourishes their natural ability
to love and be loved
to find a sense of power within
that involves sharing, guiding, respecting and receiving

We wrap our arms around children worldwide
who live deep within all of us
waiting to be
seen, heard, loved, respected,
empowered with goodness

We wrap our arms around children worldwide
So they may be protected from the
cycles of violence and oppression
lying deep within our societies, our communities,
our leaders, our families, ourselves

We wrap our arms around children worldwide
and commit ourselves to creating
a new world perspective
based on honoring our children
so they are the seed by which we grow our food
clean up our waters, our earth, our selves
so they can move freely through there own lives
getting it right for their own future children
And their own children’s children

We wrap our arms around children worldwide
And become their teachers of
Peace and spirit
Love and tenderness
Renewal and trust
Compassion and empathy
Recognizing that all children are our children

Maureen St. Clair

As I prepare this blog I think of wrapping my arms around the whole of Haiti may they continue to find strength, courage, and resilience in yet another atrocious test of these very virtues they are testimony too.
In love and solidarity. M.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Just before returning to Grenada, I went to Chapters Book store in Ottawa in search of books Maya and I could read together, I stumbled across Watership Down by Richard Adams. At the counter the salesperson approved of the books I selected but hesitated with Watership Down. He said he wasent sure this novel was appropriate for an 8 year old as there were many rabbits that met their death. Words spilled out of my mouth without thought: “I think she can handle it her dog was poisoned a few months ago and another one shot last year".He watched me bug eyed. There was a big line up behind me and no time to explain. Therefor this blog is dedicated to the salesperson at Chapters who I left wide eyed and hungering for a story:

Puppy, Palo, Brother, Shake, Coco, and Tricksy are the names of the dogs we have lost to poisioning over the years. Palo was the exception, he was shot last year when a farmer caught him and another dog chasing his sheep. I have not doubt the sheep would have been killed if the gun didn’t go off. Palo was chasing after and about to kill a neighbour's livestock and his livelihood. I was grateful Palo died a fast death and not the usual torturous death by poisoning.

there are many reasons why dogs are poisoned regulary here in the Village, such as: people getting fet up with being accosted by dogs on the road while walking, biking, and or runnning; dogs chasing and biting up people's livestock like chickens, goats, sheep; some people poison for revenge, a dog for a dog.

Last week a set of village dogs were killed because someone lost his/her patience and set poison on consecutive nights. Both our nieghbours' dogs were killed causing much grief as both Rambo and Spider were survivors of other hard ailements that dogs face here like the skin disease, mange or abuse of other forms, ie. spider survived being chopped by cutlass on his back, and a lash of stone to his head by unidentified people.

Theo and I are also guilty of planning a poison attack after our goat Gabby was attacked by a small pack of dogs in the middle of the night a few years ago. By the time Theo and I jumped out of bed Gabby had already been punctured with teeth marks in her belly and legs. She then spent three days and nights underneath our house bawling in pain until she died on the third day. We thought the vet had cleaned her wounds and she was on the mend. But she was dying not mending. We hated those dogs and talked about purchasing poison and rolling the bright pink poisonous pellets into bread and throwing it to one of the dogs who we were sure led the pack. In the end we did not succumb to our anger and used the poison to get rid of the rats instead. But we did get so far as to buy the poison. I guess my point being there is a fine line between the poisoner and the owner of the poisoned.

We also have watched our past dogs die a slow excruciating death by rat poison. We were able to save one of our dogs, Cocoa the first time by pouring a jug of sugar water down her throat and watching while the pink pellets poured back into the world. However she was killed three months later by poisioning again. I was tempted to put big notice on telephone pole in front of the suspected dog poisoner's house which read “beware dog poisoner in the area” I didn’t because I wasent sure it was him.

I am not sure why there is not more community discussion about this problem. For example finding alternative solutions then killing each other's dogs. Perhaps fear of confrontation, false accusations, built up anger over the years. Perhaps there is so much more to fret about then dogs being poisoned like how to keep moving forward in these economically hard times. For now we keep our dogs tied in the night and pray they do not bite anyone or kill anyone's livestock when they are not tied. I also find myslef reflecting on the layers that run deep in all of us and why we do what we do when faced with anger and injustice.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Harford Village Peace Workers, a community based group from Harford Village, formed last year in reaction to the rising violence in our community. The group believes the cycle of violence in our community and society can be reversed by providing and teaching kids the opposite of violence - peace, love, compassion, empathy and respect for oneself and others. The Community Group believes teaching living values and peace building skills should be part of children and youth’s everyday learning within schools, families and communities. We have been coordinating and facilitating child and youth positive programs both here in the village and with a few schools in St. Andrew’s over the past year.

The Harford Village Peace Workers began the New Year with a “Village Fun Day” in Victoria Park, Grenville. Over 40 kids (ages 3 to 18) floated through the village and down Cook Hill heading for the park to take part in an afternoon of three-leg races, tug of peace, human knot, lime and spoon, thread the needle and various running races such as relay, 100 meter, 400 meter ect. For the whole of the afternoon the kids shined. They were praised, cheered, embraced, high-fived, bounced and glorified! All of us left the park high on positive vibes. The peace leaders agreed that we must make Fun Day a regular activity. One of the leaders commented “We need to tire these kids out. Run out their anger!” you don’t see how they too tired to fight or make confusion.”

At one point three boys began play fighting while provoked by another set of kids sitting close by. One of the older kids in charge of provoking saw me walk towards them. I hear her say, “Watch Maureen coming to break up the fun.” She was surprised when I responded, “So you feel I’m going to let peace kids turn confusion kids?” Everyone laughed and the boys untangled themselves while the next race was called.

Some of the village elders sat under neath the pavilion drinking left over holiday carib and malt and commenting on the village kids’s talent, “Eh eh village kids have real talent!”

Theo and I sat on the veranda in the evening watching the moon rise and sharing the day’s memories. Felt great to be focusing on the strengths, and talents of the village youth which is too often buried by stories of violence and hate.

Theo and I agreed on the power of praise, appreciating one another’s talents and enabling kids the space to shine! Changing small corners of the world one positive comment at a time!